Pocket lighter



June 4, 1929. s, KNAPP 1,715,931

POCKET LIGHTER Filed March 24, 1928 ff I -1- W- I .Z. M Q v W '2 27 a5 78 15 28 m x 1 g 19 f) j .26" a 72 i f0 v m Q6 Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES" RAYMOND S. KNAPI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

POCKET LIGHTER.

Application filed March 24, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in ignition devices, and has particular reference to a pocket lighter of the type employing a pyrophoric element.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved lighter ofsimple and practical construction wherein the operation of a friction wheel for producing a spark from a pyrophoric element is controlled by means including an actuating member movable about an axis coincident with that of a wick tube.

Another object is to arrange gearing between the wick tube and friction wheel in concentric relation thereto and to utilize said gearing to tension a spring the expansion of which is thereafter employed to impart a rapid rotation to said friction wheel through the intermediary of said gearing.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing- Figures 1 and 2 are elevations looking at opposite sides of the lighter;

Figure 3 is a top plan View, partly broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

The lighter is shown in its preferred form as comprising a casing 6 constituting a fuel reservoir. Adjacent one end of the top of the casing there extends therefrom a fixed spindle 7 having an annular flange 8 resting against the top of the casing and forming a bearing for the lower end of a rotatable sleeve 9 which is mounted upon the spindle. The outer reduced end of the sleeve receives a disk 10, used for a purpose to appear in the course of the description, and also has mounted thereon with a force fit a friction wheel 11. A head 12 is engaged with the outer end of the sleeve and friction wheel to assist in holding the latter in position and said head is secured in place by a pin 13 driven into the outer end of the sleeve 9. At the lower end of the sleeve the same is preferably formed with a segmental gear 14 by means of which the sleeve, and consequently the friction wheel, is rotated in both directions as will later appear.

A tube 15 is supported by the top of the of said casing.

Serial No. 264,377.

casing 6 in parallel relation thereto and carcarrying the element 16 is disposed directly above the disk 10 and acts as a stop to prevent longituc linal movement of the sleeve 9 and its associated parts relative to the spindle 7. Said end of the tube 15 may also be provided with an arcuate shield or cover 19 which partially encircles the periphery of the wheel 11 to form an enclosure therefor as a protective measure against contact of the fingers of the user with said wheel.

Adjacent the spindle 7 the top of the easing also has extending therefrom the wick tube 20 in which is disposed the wick 21 adapted to be ignited by sparks from the element 16 when the wheel 11 is rotated. At a point adjacent the outer end of the tube 20 there is formed thereon a housing 22 con sisting of an annular flange extending inwardly toward the casing in spaced relation to the tube and terminating short of the top This housing encloses a spring 23 coiled about the tube and having one end. in fixed relation thereto by securing said end in a part of the housing or other convenient place. The other end of said spring is fixed in a segmental gear 24 interposed between the top of the casing and in ner end of said housing 22 for rotation about the tube 20 .as an axis, the teeth of said gear engaging those of the gear 14 so that when the former gear is impelled in either direction a rotary movement willbe imparted to the sleeve 9 and friction wheel 11. A turning of the gear 24 in one direction is utilized to place the spring 3 under tension and while such turning movement is being accomplished the friction wheel also will be turned but will not at this time produce a spark from the pyrophoric element 16. The turning of the gearing 14, 24 is effected by an actuating member 25 in the form of a handle or arm made integrally with the gear 24 and extending outwardly therefrom in the direction of the sleeve 9 against which said arm may engage when in its normal position, as shown in Figure 5. The outer extremity of the arm projects slightly beyond the easing 6 and terminates in a ball 26 or other enlargement which is conveniently located so as to be readily engaged by a thumb -scribed.

of the operator to swing said arm in a direction away from the sleeve 9. In so doing, the gear 24 is rotated and the spring 23 consequently placed under tension. Release of pressure against the arm 25 then allows the spring to expand with the result that the gear 2% is rapidly rotated in an opposite direction from that previously de- This rotation is imparted to the gear 14 and from thence to the friction wheel which now causes sparks to be emitted from the pyrophoric element 16 in the direction of the wick 21 to ignite the same. At the same time, the arm 25 is restored to its normal position and ready for the next operation.

The top of the casing 6 may also carry a pivoted arm 27 having a snuffer 28 engageable over the wick 21 when the latter is not in use, said arm being movable about its pivot to a position perpendicular to the top of the casing to expose said wick preparatory to igniting the same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pocket lighter, a pyrophoric element, a rotatable friction wheel engaging said element, interengaging gears for rotating said wheel, a support, a spring having one end fixed to said support and its other to one of said gears and tensioned by the movement of said gears in one direction, and an actuating member connected to one of said gears for moving the same in said direction, said spring being thereafter operable to move said gears in an opposite direction to thereby impart a rapid rotation to said friction wheel to produce a spark from said, pyrophoric element, and a wick ignitible by said spark.

2. In a pocket lighter, a pyrophoric element, a rotatable friction wheel engaging said element, interengaging gears for rotating said wheel, a support, a spring having one end fixed to saidsupport and its other to one of said gears and tensioned by the movement of said gears in one direction, a handle projecting laterally from one of said gears and operable from a normal position to tension said spring and restored to normal by said spring when said handle is released, said spring also actuating said gears to rapidly rotate said friction wheel to produce a spark from said pyrophoric element, and a wick ignited by said spark.

3. In a pocket lighter, a casing, a wick tube thereon, a pyrophoric element supported by said casing, a rotatable friction wheel engaging said pyrophoric element, gearing rotatable about the axes of said wick tube and friction wheel, an operating handle for said gearing projecting laterally outward beyond said casing, and a spring tensioned by the operation of said gearing and thereafter operable to rotate said friction Wheel through said gearing.

4. In a pocket lighter, a wick tube, a pyrophoric element, a rotatable friction wheel engaging said element, a gear concentric with said wick tube, a spring coiled about said tube and having one end secured to said gear, a housing for said spring to which is secured the other end of the spring, an operating handle for said gear projecting therefrom and ope able to tension said spring whereby to rotate said gear upon release of said handle, and means thereupon actuated to rotate said friction wheel.

5. In a pocket lighter, a wick tube, a pyrophoric element, a rotatable friction wheelengaging said element, a gear concentric with said wick tube, a spring coiled about said tube and having one end secured to said gear, a housing for said spring to which is secured. the other end of the spring, an operating handle for said gear projecting therefrom and operable to tension said spring whereby to rotate said gear upon release of said handle, a spindle about which said friction wheel is rotatable, a sleeve rotatable with said wheel, and a second gear on said sleeve engaging the first named gear to impart rota tion to said friction wheel under the influence of said spring.

In testimony whereof Ihave affixed my signature.

RAYMOND S. KNAPP. V 

